1:37 pm

Mon July 8, 2013

At Murder Trial, Friends Say It's Zimmerman's Voice On Tape

The key takeaway from Monday morning's testimony at the trial of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin is that the defense produced three people to say they're convinced it is Zimmerman's voice that can be heard calling for help on the recording of a 911 call.

"Two of George Zimmerman's best friends — a married couple who wrote a book on the case — testified Monday that they could hear their friend yelling for help on a 911 call before the gunshot that killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin."

"Jurors also heard from longtime Zimmerman friend Leanne Benjamin, who also testified the screams were Zimmerman's. She said she'd heard him yell before, when they worked on a local political campaign together."

Seventeen-year-old Trayvon was killed on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Fla. Zimmerman, a self-styled neighborhood watch volunteer, had called police to say there was a "suspicious" person in the area. At some point, the two came into contact. Zimmerman says he shot Trayvon in self defense, after the younger man attacked him. Trayvon's family members and their supporters say Zimmerman racially profiled the African-American teen and should not have followed him. They also dispute Zimmerman's claim that he acted in self defense. The case reignited a national discussion about race relations.

Whose voice can be heard on the recording (of a call made by neighbor) is important to the case. If it is Zimmerman's voice, that would buttress his claim of self defense. If it is Trayvon's, that would support the prosecution's case against Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder.